Mimeograph stencil signature shield



Patented Feb. 5, 1952 OFFICE MIMEOGRAPH SITEN CIL SIGNATURE SHIELD Y Thomas F. McCarthy, Washington, D. C.

' Application April 23, 1947, Serial No. 743.477

1 Claim.

My invention consists in new and useful improvements in a shield or protecting means for mimeograph stencils or the like and has for its object to provide a simple, practical andinexpensive device which will faciliate the bold and accurate signature of stencils without tearing or piercing the same with the stylus.

Heretofore considerable difficulty has been encountered in the signing of mimeograph stencils even with the most improved types of stylus, due to the piercing or tearing of the stencil by the end of the stylus. This has been particularly true in offices Where large numbers of stencils are required to be signed each day and where speed is important to insure eicient functioning. A notable delay is occasioned when it is necessary to painstakingly apply each signature so as to avoid mutilation of the stencil.

It is, therefore, the primary object of my invention to overcome these difculties by providing a device which may be readily applied to the stencil and having a sheet of thin transparent protective medium which lies directly over the point of signature whereby the signature may be applied Without actual contact of the stylus with the stencil.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device having the above advantageous features and which is readily adapted for use as an advertising medium. The device lends itself to various attractive designs and arrangements for this purpose.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in the novel features hereinafter set forth, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing in which numerals of like character designate similar parts in both views:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of one form of my improved protecting device; and

Fig. 2 is a view of the same in side elevation.

In the drawings, the numeral I represents a base plate preferably composed of a relatively thin but rigid sheet of transparent material, such as lucite or other plastic material, adapted to be placed over a mimeograph stencil requiring signature. At a suitable location in substantially its center portion, the plate I is provided with a transversely disposed window or signature opening 2, preferably having its edges beveled or rounded as at 3 to facilitiate signature.

Adjacent the upper end of the plate I, I pro- (Cl. 10i-128.4)

vide a transverse spool 4 rotatably mounted on an axle 5 in upstanding side brackets 6 which are Xed to the base plate I. The spool 4 carries a rolled strip I of transparent, pliable material, such as cellophane, which extends longitudinally of the plate I and is alternately inserted through spaced slots 8 and 9 so as to lie acrossv the underside of window 2. After emerging from the underside of the plate through slot 9, the strip I extends to lower end of the plate I which is provided with any suitable means I0 for severing the used portions of the strip. In the example of my invention illustrated, I have shown a simple severing device consisting of a pivoted knife and clamp arrangement adapted to be raised and lowered into cutting position, as shown in Fig. 2. When in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the knife blade clamps the strip I against the edge of the base plate and the strip may be torn off by pulling against the cutting edge of the blade. It is obvious, however, that various other means may be employed for this purpose with equal eifect.

Returning to the spool 4, it Will benoted that I have provided a thumb nut II threaded on one end of the axle 5 and adapted, when tightened, to abut the adjacent bracket 6, thus preventing the unrolling of the transparent strip I when the device is set for use. In order to retard the unrolling of the strip during adjustment on the base plate, I may provide a spring leaf I2 xed at one end to the base plate I with its other end engaging the projecting end of the spool 4 under the required tension.

In use, my improved protector is placed upon a mineograph stencil to be signed and is adjusted to position with the Window 2 directly over the point of signature. The base plate I and the strip of protective medium 'I both being transparent, afford complete Visibility of the stencil and facilitate the proper location of the signature window 2. By the use of a conventional stylus the signature is applied to that portion of the protective medium 'I bounded by the window 2, the pressure on the stylus being sufcient to effect a strong, clear and accurate signature on the stencil beneath, without danger of mutilating the latter. l

In addition to its use as a, signature shield, this device may be used when making drawings, sketches or diagrams on a stencil with a stylus. There are many occasions when it is found necessary to draw a sketch, cartoon, diagram or ngure on the stencil to accompany the typewritten matter on the stencil or in some cases to stand alone. By placing the device so that the signature window is over that area of the stencil to be worked on the same bold and accurate lines may be drawn with the stylus without tearing the stencil.

After one portion of the strip 1 has become worn from repeated use, the thumb screw il is released and the strip unrolled to bring a new area into position. The thumb screw is again locked and the spent portions of the strip severed with the knife I0.

While I have shown one particular form of adapting my invention, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the details of construction `without departing from the spirit of my invention. Furthermore, Iv do not intend to limit myself to any particular material, as various substances having the required properties may be used with equal results.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A stencil signature shield adapted to overlie a stencil sheet and to be selectivelypositioned thereonfcomprising a substantially iiat, portable 4base plate of transparent, rigid material having a smooth bottom surface to facilitate sliding engagement with the upper face of said stencil sheet, a signature opening insaid base plate, a guide slot on either side of said opening arranged in parallel 4 relation to the latter, and a rolled strip of flexible transparent protective material rotatably supported on said base plate and adapted to be threaded through said guide slots with a portion underlying said opening in contact with a stencil sheet to be signed and in substantially the same plane as the bottom surface of said plate, said underlying portion being slidable over said stencil with said plate, whereby said shield may be selectively positioned with relation to the matter on said stencil sheet with said opening and the adjacent portion of said protective strip over the desired signature location.

THOMAS F. MCCARTHY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 569,169 Byers Oct. 13, 1896 1,006,393 Montgomery Oct. 17, 1911 1,105,810 McAll Aug. 4, 1914 1,235,222 Marshall July 31, 1917 1,818,383 Cowden Aug. l1, 1931 1,839,307 Gabielson Jan. 5, 1932 2,109,729 Lee Mar. 1, 1938 2,324,662 Aaron July 20, 1943 

